Correlation between Body Mass Index and Hematological Indices in Young Adult Nigerians with Different Hemoglobin Genotypes

¹Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin city, Nigeria

²Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

³Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria

^*Corresponding Author

David Bolaji Akinbo

Department of Medical Laboratory Science

College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Afe Babalola University

Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Nigeria

Cell no: +2347030857729

Email: dakinbo@abuad.edu.ng

Abstract

In view of the association of various haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns with different pathological conditions and obesity with its attendant risk factors for cardiac and pulmonary disorders, the present study evaluated the relationship between body mass index and haematological indices by randomly selecting young adult Nigerians with different haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns within the age group of 17-45 years and mean age of ±31 years old. 215 participants were enlisted for this study with their BMI and other anthropometric indices measured and grouped into different BMI categories as recommended by the World Health Organization. Haematological indices such as packed cell volume, total and differential white blood cell count, and platelets as well as haemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis were assessed in relation to their anthropometric measurements using standard methods. We observed a significantly increased neutrophil and platelet counts in the subjects with BMI > 25 kg/m². BMI was also observed to be positively correlated with the neutrophil, monocyte counts and MCV of haemoglobin AS and SS genotype groups in this study. This study showed a higher percentage of overweight and obesity among females, and haematological dyscrasias in mostly the HbSS subjects. Knowledge of the relationship between BMI and hematological indices of apparently healthy individuals within any population is therefore essential in healthcare planning, as a justification for early prognosis and genetic counselling policy strategically reducing the incidence of obesity, its attendant conditions and haemoglobinopathies in Nigeria.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, Haematological indices, Haemoglobin Genotypes, Obesity, Leukocytosis

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